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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Earlean Cross Sanders of Matteson, who
4 passed away on April 1, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders was born on August 13, 1939
6 in Chicago; her parents were Bishop Moses and Dr. Priscilla
7 Cross; she married Bishop Robert R. Sanders on April 4, 1959;
8 and
 
9     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders retired after over 30 years
10 of employment as office manager of Lotsa Color printing in
11 downtown Chicago; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders served as "First Lady" of
13 the New First Church of God in Christ in Chicago Heights and
14 the All Nations Church of God in Christ in Joliet, both of
15 which her husband serves as pastor; as the Bishop's wife, she
16 also presided over the Pastor's and Minister's Wives Alliance
17 of Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Illinois of the Churches
18 of God in Christ, of which her husband is the prelate; she
19 faithfully led the midmorning prayer services at New First
20 Church until her health prevented her; she served in countless
21 positions within the church and was an excellent musician and
22 gospel singer who shared her talents whenever called upon to

 

 

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1 serve; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders was fondly known as "Mother
3 Sanders" by her many friends and family members; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders was preceded in death by her
5 parents, Bishop Moses Cross Sr. and Dr. Priscilla Cross; her
6 sisters, Catherine Cross and Beatrice (Chester) Dickerson; her
7 brothers, Aaron and Melvin (Dolores) Cross; her grandson,
8 Jalind Jones; and her great-granddaughter, Eternity Hall; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Earlean Cross Sanders is survived by her husband
10 of 50 years, Bishop Robert R. Sanders; her children, Robert II
11 (Stephanie), Dehlia (Ricky) Hatten, Tereasa, Pastor Roland
12 Sr., and Rosalind (Pastor James) Jones; her grandchildren,
13 Melissa Hall, LeAnton Hall, Robert Sanders III, Tonesha
14 Sanders, Ashley Sanders, Natalean Sanders, Min. Christian
15 Sanders, Roland Sanders Jr., Reona Sanders, Johnathan Sanders,
16 Ryan Sanders, and Nicole Sanders; her great-grandchildren,
17 Maya Hall, Da'Nell Hall, Madison Hall, and Avena Sanders; her
18 brothers, Pastor Moses (Mattie) Cross Jr., Nathan (Georgia)
19 Cross, Eld. Irvin (Evelyn) Cross Sr., Pastor Arthur (Dr.
20 Marilyn) Cross, and Pastor James (Linda) Cross Sr.; her
21 sisters, Madeline Cunningham and Christine (Eld. Jerome)
22 Weatherspoon; her in-laws, Dolores Cross, Pastor Chester
23 Dickerson, Geneva Clifton, Lillie Sanders, Margaret Sample,

 

 

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1 Mary Wright, Clara Edwards, Bishop Benjamin Sanders, Pastor
2 Nathaniel Sanders, and James Sanders; and her numerous
3 step-brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, and
4 godchildren; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
6 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
7 her family and friends, the passing of Earlean Cross Sanders;
8 and be it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10 presented to the family of Earlean Cross Sanders as an
11 expression of our sympathy.